The state was on track Friday to make its annual multimillion dollar payment to keep the New Orleans Saints in Louisiana, according to Louisiana Superdome officials.

Under a 10-year, $186 million agreement negotiated by former Gov. Mike Foster's administration in 2001, the state makes annual payments to the Saints. Gov. Kathleen Blanco has been trying to renegotiate the agreement, but has agreed to make the payments.

Bill Curl, a spokesman for the Superdome, said a loan approved by the State Bond Commission was completed Friday and that a check for about $13 million would be handed to the Saints on Tuesday, the first business day after the Independence Day weekend and the deadline for the payment.